Team building activities Stockholm – from speed boats to whisky tasting!

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Scandinavia has a huge range of options for corporate events. From Lapland snow experiences in the north to chic design hotels in the south (here’s one of our favourites in the Danish capital Copenhagen).

Last week the Effective Event Solutions team were out in Stockholm, Sweden with a group of senior executives from offices around the globe. Following a successful few days of meetings and private dinners, we took them out to experience the city in a totally different way … from the water!

Stockholm city is composed of 14 islands surrounded by the archipelago waters and a further 2,000 islands (many uninhabited) deeper out towards to the Baltic sea. Almost 30% of Sweden’s capital city is made up of waterways so getting the opportunity to go out on the water is must!

We took 24 guests (in full wind & rain proof outfits!) out on RIB speedboats to race around the archipelago. Each team was given a nautical map and a booklet of challenges / questions from which they designed (and navigated!) their own route with the aim of winning the most points.

After an adrenaline filled hour and a half on the archipelago, the jubilant teams were welcomed to Fjäderholmen island for a VIP whisky tasting at Mackmyra.

The Mackmyra distillery is the first in Sweden and produces a variety of single malts. Our group were able to taste 7 varieties with the expert guidance of an in-house whisky master. Once we had warmed everyone up with a few whisky drams we took a leisurely tour boat cruise through central Stockholm city with a local guide telling tales and stories as we sailed.

To end the day in true Scandinavian style we took the group for a sumptuous dinner at Restaurant J Nacka with fine wines and beautiful night time views of the archipelago.

Have a look at more photos from this event here.

If your interested in holding an event in Scandinavia – whether it’s team building, a large scale conference or even a product launch – speak to our knowledgeable team via Sales@EffectiveEventSolutions.com for a FREE proposal.

Converted Church Venues London

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When looking for a venue with real ‘wow-factor’ it is hard to beat historical buildings, with grandeur and enduring style from era gone-by such venues offer different features for a variety of events.

None more so that converted church venues; often with soaring pillars and beautifully crafted high ceilings can be transformed in a whoile host of different style to suit any event.

Two of our favourite converted church venues London are One Mayfair and One Marylebone. The Effective Event Solutions team have produced everything from meetings and presentations to gala dinners (pictured at One Mayfair) and sumptuous summer parties within these stunning spaces.

One Mayfair was constructed in the late 1820s as St Mark’s Chruch to ease the shortage of ‘church sittings’ in this area of London, at the time the local population was expanding with the arrival of wealthy country aristocrats seeking city residences.

The Grade 1 listed property welcomes guests through the 34 foot facade (one of the finest pieces of architecture in the city) into it’s grand hall where we can accommodate up to 250 seated or 450 standing. The mezzanine and outdoor terrace provide additional capacity for drinks receptions and networking events.

One Marylebone was built in 1826 as Holy Trinity Chruch on designs from Sir John Soane (one of Britain’s finest architects) to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon. The basic structure of Soane’s design remains to this day and was opened as an event venue in 2008.

The converted church venue boast three event space for hire along with landscaped garden, just moments from London’s famous Regent’s Park. The first floor galleries are flooded with natural daylight and can accommodate up to 100 guests for a seated presentation or meal and up to 300 for a standing reception. The grand Soane Hall on ground level can seat 250 for a seated meal and up to 500 for standing reception.

The venue works equally well for smaller events e.g. a grand dinner for around 40-60 on one long table in the centre of the splendid Soane Hall.

If you’re interested in converted church venues London (or indeed throughout the UK & Europe) please contact the Effective Event Solutions team on Sales@EffectiveEventSolutions.com for a FREE proposal tailored to your event.

Unique Party Venue in London : Luxury yacht on the River Thames

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It can be difficult to find cool, unique venues when you have large numbers. Often the only options are bland hotel ballrooms or giant warehouse like spaces … unless you’re willing to split the group over different rooms / floors – which kind of defeats the object of the event!

For a unique party venue in London, look no further than the Silver Stugeon. Part of a fleet of luxury vessels on London’s River Thames (have a look at a smaller event we did on the Royal Nore) this is a luxury river yacht with space to accommodate up to 550 guests.

The upper deck boasts a stunning open air bar, with iconic London views as you cruise gently along the famous River Thames. The lower deck is decorated in neutral tones with rich wood highlights, which gives the vessel an air of luxury whilst also working as a blank canvas to be styled however you wish for your event.

With catering provided exclusively by Jamie Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts, you can rest assured your guests will be wined and dined in exquisite style aboard this luxury yacht on the River Thames. One of our favourite food concepts is Jamie’s Market Stalls which offer tastes from around the globe at informal events.

Hosting anything from product launches to gala dinners, this versatile venue can also seat up to 350 in theatre style for meetings, presentations and conferences too!

To make the luxury experience even more special, we can organise firework shows, 3D mapping on buildings you cruise past and world class entertainment on board. The limit is only your imagination, so let Effective Event Solutions bring your event to life aboard this unique party venue in London!

Talk to the knowledgeable team at Effective Event Solutions for a FREE proposal of venues and ideas to make your next event one to remember! Sales@EffectiveEventSolutions.com

London Design Hotel & Venue : check-in at London EDITION

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Think you’ve seen it all before when it comes to chic venues and modern luxury hotels? Plenty of sales teams use these words a little too liberally but let us introduce you to the London EDITION; a London design hotel that really is every bit as good as it claims.

With 173 stylish rooms and suites situated just of the Oxford Street (famed for it’s shopping), the hotel is well placed for groups who want to be at the heart of the action in the UK’s capital. The bedrooms feature oak floors, wood panelled walls and sumptuous faux fur throws – imagine a luxury alpine cabin with all the creature comforts of home and the outstanding service of a high end hotel.

The venue boasts 5 distinct event spaces, accommodating everything from small private dinners of 12 guests to meetings for up to 60 in the studio spaces. For something a little different why not book the underground nightclub ‘Basement’ for daytime screenings, fashion shows or meetings up to around 40 seated guests, or Monday – Wednesday host your own private club night or cool product launch.

Looking for serious wow factor? You can also hire the penthouse suite complete with wrap around landscaped terrace, 360 degree views of London and custom design furnishings, suitable for private meetings and VIP functions.

Have a sneak peak around the hotel by watching their opening video here

If you’re interested in hosting a group or event at this venue then contact our team via Sales@EffectiveEventSolutions.com for your FREE event proposal!

How to plan a Corporate Christmas Party

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Full of festive spirit but dreading having to plan the office party this year? Here are some handy hints and tips from the Effective Event Solutions team on how to plan a corporate Christmas party.

When it comes to planning a company Christmas party there is no such thing as too early: you may not want to be thinking about tinsel and mulled wine in April, but this could be a great time to book a bargain and ensure the best date for your event.

Pick a date: Midweek nights will be cheaper (as will late November and even January if you can get away with a post-xmas do), but can you afford the inevitably unproductive, hungover day after?

It can also be a good idea to send a few date options around the office and gather feedback on everybody’s preference. You can’t please them all, but it will give you an idea of attendance numbers which can influence your venue choice.

Save the date: even if you don’t have details such as the venue, theme etc. pinned down, it is good to get a date in people’s diaries as early as possible.

Budget: Whether extravagant or scrimping you need to have a budget in place before you look at anything else; there is nothing worse than finding the perfect venue and then getting a big fat NO from your company’s finance team.

Once you have an idea of budget think about what is most important to your guests i.e. if they’re party animals and love a few drinks then allocate a larger part of your budget to the bar – picking a cheaper venue but wowing them with cool cocktails will be a winner!

Try and leave a some budget aside for ‘unexpected costs’ too, last minute changes can be tricky if you’ve already splurged the whole lot!

Type of party: these days a company Christmas party can take many forms, bear in mind this is a ‘thank you’ to your colleagues so think about what they would want.

  • Location – close to the office? Close to good transport links?
  • Numbers – can they bring a plus one?
  • Time – a daytime event or evening party? Or even both if you combine the party with a company meeting as you have everyone in one place.
  • Party style – Bespoke party or package deal? A bespoke party means a lot more work, finding a venue (or using a space within your own office) and booking all the other party elements (e.g. catering, décor, entertainment) but it does allow you to create something designed exactly for your company.
  • A package bought from a venue feels a lot easier as they provide all the elements, however it is likely they will run a theme for the entire Christmas period (e.g. Hollywood glam, winter wonderland or James Bond) so you don’t have any choice on theme.
  • A package bought from an event agency (like us at Effective Event Solutions!) is the best of both worlds, the agency bring together all the bespoke elements for you and package it up into one invoice.
  • Private or shared? Many package venues offer both exclusive nights and shared nights – the shared nights work well if you have a smaller group as you still get the same great prices as a bigger group, you just have to share the night with other small companies.

Venues: Use internet searches to narrow down ideas by size, style or location and go from there, if you have time then do site visits and see the event spaces. Many venues offer Christmas open days where you can see the rooms as they will look during the festive period.

Entertainment: Utilise your venue contact’s on-site knowledge to find out what has worked well, or not so well, there in the past. If you have the budget for a big showbiz act then try to speak direct to their agent to ensure you’re getting the best price.

Catering: Food is the big feature of most Christmas parties and there are many different ways to do it. Whether it’s a traditional turkey sit down feast or casual bowl food, speak to your caterers about different options and make sure there is plenty of it!

When sending out company-wide save the dates or invites it is also a good time to request any special dietary requirements, things like Kosher or Halal meals are often an extra expense so it’s good to work out numbers early.

Drinks: Sparkling wine is the classic welcome drink but how about a nice warm winter Pimms or mulled wine to welcome guests in from the cold? Have you got the budget for pre-paid drinks or will you have a cash bar? If you have a crowd of big drinkers but minimal budget it could be sensible to offer just house wine and beer as complimentary, then have spirits on a cash bar.

Accommodation: if the venue isn’t near your office or the majority of your colleague live further afield, it could be a good idea to pre-book some accommodation. Many hotels will let you reserve a block of rooms and allow guests to pay personally, so don’t worry if you don’t have enough in the budget for this!

Speeches: Having the whole company or team in one room is a great chance to thank everyone for their hard work and present awards for outstanding achievements, think about the scale of your venue – do you need a PA system or relay screens to ensure everyone can hear and see?

Photographer: You’ve arranged an incredible night to remember, so it’d be a shame not to have a record of all the fun. Photo-booths are a great idea, from simple machines to full Christmas scene sets with professional photographers, there is an option for every budget. You can link the booth to a big screen and live stream all those cheesy grins to the rest of the crowd too!

Cloakroom: If the venue doesn’t provide one as standard then you need to make sure you have sufficient space and security to bring one in – make sure there are enough staff for peak times (i.e. arrival and departure) to avoid long queues! Also bear in mind where you’re guests are travelling from, might they have suitcases? If so hire stackable tables or shelves to maximise space for bags and cases.

Security: Even if the event is held in your office it is a good idea to have a security guard, they will ensure no uninvited guests sneak in but are also on hand for any drunken disagreements and can ensure guests leave safely (and quietly if it is a residential area).

With pressure coming from both the time constraints to book the best date at a great venue along with trying to please everyone from accounts to marketing can seem like an impossible task, if that’s the case you can always ask us to do it for you!

For competitive rates and exciting Christmas party ideas contact us on Sales@EffectiveEventSolutions.com for a FREE proposal.